Pitcher for sterilized water



, M. L. SITOCUMB PITCHER FOR STERILIZED WAT R Filed Jan..15, 1927 I /ZL.Slocumb I I, I

Patented Aug. 30, 1927.

MARY LEE SLOGUMB, OE SHELBY, MISSISSIPPI.

IPITGHER. FOB STERILIZED WATER.

Application filed January 13, 1927. 7 Serial No. 160,936 I This invention relates to pitchers and particularly to pltchers used for holding ster1 llzed water used in operations.

The pitcher generally used in operations is an ordinary enameled pitcher and before an operation is entirely sterilized. This pitcher is ordinarily covered with a towel which has been sterilized in an auto-clave to keep the towel dry. Vfhen the pitcher is to be used, the towel must be raised from over the mouth of the pitcher to allow sterilized water to be poured into it, and to again close the pitcher, the towel must be dragged down over the mouth of the pitcher. Inasmuch as the exterior of the pitcher which is touched by the hands becomes contaminated, it is obvious that the towel is also likely to become contaminated and the next time water is needed, the towel must be raised again, thus rendering it likely that the mouth of the pitcher will be contaminated and thus contaminate the sterilized water. This results in an infection of the patient, the source of the infection being, however, unknown. Not only is this method of holding sterilized water ineffective as far as sterilization goes but it is also very difficult to pour water into the pitcher and avoid spilling the water on the towel. Between each operation the towel must be changed and pitcher resterilizedin an auto-.

clave. This requires much extra linen and considerable waste of time I The general object of-the present invention is to provide a pitcher for containing sterilized water which is provided with a cover and with a spout, the spout being also 7 provided With a cover whichdoes not touch the spout itself but which ,fits over an auxiliary spout concentric to'the pouring spout. Thus the spout does not com-e in contact with anything which would contaminate it and the cover may be readily removed or replaced without the inner portion of the cover being contaminated in anyway. The pitcher and all parts may be thoroughly boiled,'thus saving time and reducing, the

number of pitchers required in an operatingroom. Asno towels are used, the amount of linen required in an operating room is great ly decreased.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein V Figure l is an elevation of my lmproved pitcher; c

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view thereof.

In these drawings 10 designates thev body of an ordinary pitcher having ahandle 11 and a spoutlQ. The pitcher has a flat top without any lip and is kept covered by a lid or cover 13 fitting tightly against the flat top of the pitcher and having a handlei 14 on the top ofthe lid' whereby the lidma'y be manipulated without the hands touching the inner face of the lid or'the rim thereof.

Surrounding the spout 12 but less a in length than the spout, is the shield or auxiliary spout 15. This is integral with the body of the pitcher and extends upward and outward in spaced relation to the spout 12 and is adapted to receive upon it the tight fitting cover 16, the spout .15 being preferably formed with a rabbeted upper end having tight connection with the. cover. The cover is provided with the handle 17 In using this pitcher, the pitcher is boiled fortwenty minutes and after removing the pitcher from the water all enclosed or inner partsof'the'pitcher are sterile. The top 13 may be removed to permit sterile water to be'poured into thepitcher and the top then replaced. Of course, the cover 16 must be removed in order to permit water to be poured from the pitcher. This cover 16 is then replaced andthe spout 12 remains ster ile. The advantages of this device are that the pitcher and all its parts may be readily boiled and completely sterilized. The boiling of the pitcher is a relatively easy matter, much easier than sterilizing the pitcher and towel in an auto-clave, thus saving time and reducing; the number of towels and pitchers in an operating room. Furthermore, the parts ofv the pitcher are more durable than the towels and the laundry work of'a hospital is greatly decreased.

Pitchers for sterilized water are used principally in operations where water which is absolutely sterile is required for the soaking of sponges, cleansing wounds, etc. The ordinary pitcher with the lid and spout does not have anyproper protection from cont-amination as the spout is uncovered and the top does notcover the rlm around the top of the pitcher. It will'be seen that my pitcher has a top which not only covers the opening of the pitcher but extends down outside of the pitcher. This renders contamination unlikely. The special feature of the pitcher, however, is the enclosed spout.'

If acover were ,fitted directly over the spout 12 there still mightbe'danger of the'cover becoming contaminated and thus contaminate the water but it will be seen that the spout 12 is not touched by anything, even the cover, after sterilization so that all danger of contamination is entirely eliminated.

I claim 1. A pitcher of the character described comprising a body, a lid closing the body, the body having a spout'below the lid and integrally connected to the body and a relatively short shield approximately concentric to the spout but spaced therefrom and interally connected to the body, and a cover tting over the spout but not touching the same and engaging with the shield.

'2. A pitcher of the character described by a rim, a lid having a downwardly extending flange engaging around'the outside of the rim defining said opening, the body having a spoutdisposed below the opening of the body and integral therewith, and a shield concentric to the spout but spaced therefrom and integral withthe body, and a cover fitting over the spout and engaging with the shield, the cover being held at all points in spaced relation to the spout by the shield. 1

In testimony whereof I hereunto atfix my signature;

MARY LEE sLooUMB. 

